Whatever possessed UP to build such a huge, magnificent depot at Kelso, CA? What’s there? Crew change? It looks to be in great shape, but I doubt that the UP has to do with that.
In the early days it was a crew change location. Just to the east is Cima Hill, a grade about 20 miles in length. In steam days, many manned steam helpers were stationed there.
Kelso was the helper station at the bottom of the Cima Grade, and the building was built to provide accommodations for the helper crews and other railroad workers. The big attraction of the location was an ample supply of good water.
Currently it’s a visitor’s center for the Mojave Desert Preserve (I think) and is maintained by the National Park Service. Access is by a long drive across the desert from either I-15 or I-40 (both of which are long drives across the desert in their own rights.) Water is available there, but the nearest gas is on the freeways and the nearest store is 16 miles away in Cima.
Chuck (Southern Nevada resident)
Thanks much guys. I drove out from Vegas to the apex of Cima and watched a few trains work the grade. From there into Vegas is a pretty interesting piece of RR.
…Certainly a nice photograph of the station.
What a lovely depot! I have only the one photo to go by, but the station is immense! This is not to start a political argument, it doesn’t much matter to me, but was the depot designed and/or built (in whole or in part) with federal $$$ courtesy Dept.Interior/Parks Service? Even if it’s just a huge air-conditioned pamphlet rack and indoor bathrooms and a drinking fountain, from what you’ve told me I bet lots of taxpayers are very pleased with its “last chance” location.
The only use I can think of for UP is (possibly a modern version of a PBX) and of course comfort facilities for crews going on and off train. I don’t think they’d have any reason to anticipate resumption of passenger RR service and if so, they’d probably expect Amtrak to lead the way. If I were a stockholder I’d probably resent it if the UP paid the whole dime of the station out of the goodness of their corporate hearts. [hold for laugh] But I don’t know anything of the story of how the depot came to be.
What a lovely depot! I have only the one photo to go by, but the station is immense! This is not to start a political argument, it doesn’t much matter to me, but was the depot designed and/or built (in whole or in part) with federal $$$ courtesy Dept.Interior/Parks Service? Even if it’s just a huge air-conditioned pamphlet rack and indoor bathrooms and a drinking fountain, from what you’ve told me I bet lots of taxpayers are very pleased with its “last chance” location.
The only use I can think of for UP is (possibly a modern version of a PBX) and of course comfort facilities for crews going on and off train. I don’t think they’d have any reason to anticipate resumption of passenger RR service and if so, they’d probably expect Amtrak to lead the way. If I were a stockholder I’d probably resent it if the UP paid the whole dime of the station out of the goodness of their corporate hearts. [hold for laugh] But I don’t know anything of the story of how the depot came to be.
Looks like the depot has been there since 1924. I guess a lot of steam crews were based out of there, boosting trains up over Cima Hill.
It seems to be in an improbable location (VERY remote), but it was a helper station, and had a small cafe area and rooms to rent for UP employees (and the public, at least as recently as 1971). After the end of steam, UP sometimes used an EMD TR5 (SW9 cow-&-calf combo) for a helper there.
Until the late-1940s opening of the Eagle Mountain Mine in Riverside County, Kelso was where the nearby Vulcan Mine trucked iron ore for rail loading and shipment to Kaiser Steel’s big mill in Fontana.
As recently as the 1970s (or later) some UP MW activity was based there, or at least that’s where the beautiful green rolling stock was parked.
When it was no longer of use to the UP, the company was ready to level it or donate it. Fortunately, a group developed to preserve the building. As I understand, National Park Service money actually paid for the restoration and the converstion into a remarkable visitor center.
If you’re driving I-15 or I-40 into Southern California, it’s not a huge detour to swing off the main highway and go visit. You can do it all on paved roads. If you love old rail stations, it’s really worth a look-see.
John Signor’s book The Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad has some excellent coverage of the subject.